What a start to 2017 for Roger Federer. Who would have believed it? Just look at what he’s already accomplished:

Federer won the Australian Open for the first time since 2010.

Federer won Indian Wells for the first time since 2012.

Federer won Miami for the first time since 2006.

Federer swept Indian Wells and Miami for the third time in his career, first time since 2006 and he won the first three big events for just the second time in his career after 2006.

And Federer beat Rafael Nadal in a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2007 Wimbledon final. And then he went on to beat Rafa two more times, doing it quite easily!

Oh, and he’s 35, has four kids and he’s coming off a 6-month knee injury. So really, how is this happening?

1. It’s The Racquet, Stupid
Yes, the backhand. Yes, the return. But some credit for those improved shots has to go to his racquet switch at the start of 2014.

My guess is had Federer not have re-injured his knee at Wimbledon we would have seen this form much sooner. It just took some extra time, some extra calibration for him to get completely comfortable with the larger frame and now, as we can see, things are clicking.

And once his major weakness — the backhand — becomes a strength, then everything else benefits. If you play tennis, you know when your worst shot starts working, wow does that lift your game. That’s happening with Roger.

2. Time Away
Had he not taken six months off would he be this damn good? Maybe, maybe not. But by getting away from the game, Federer came back fully recharged with a renewed zest for the sport. And it shows. He’s having fun out there, and there’s little pressure — who really expected this from him so soon, if ever again?

That time off also allowed him to get a better feel from the racquet and maybe address some physical areas that needed strengthening. Is his right arm stronger than its ever been? (To hit that one-handed backhand, it needs to be strong!)

3. No Novak, No Murray
Through the first three months, Federer got lucky and avoided the Top 2 in the world, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. I feel had Federer ran into one of them in Melbourne or even at Indian Wells or Miami, things may not have gone his way.

Granted, both are not playing well but I think they would have risen up to the challenge in facing the Swiss. Djokovic’s had his share of success against Roger on hardcourts and Murray’s got a few wins. So Federer’s fortunate that both are struggling, but I am looking forward to the day when they do play — probably will have to wait until Wimbledon semifinals in July!

4. You Just Can’t Teach Poise
Has there ever been a player so calm, so confident when having or facing match points? That doesn’t go away after time off. Roger has it and in those crucial moments like against Rafa in that fifth set, or against Berdych and Kyrgios in Miami, Federer still knows how to come through. What an asset to have.

5. Hardcourts
A perfect time for Federer to come back is at the start of the year when the tour is on hardcourts and many players just aren’t in full flight after the holidays. So had he come back at Indian Wells or Miami, that gets a little tougher.

6. His Team
Severin, Ivan, Pierre, etc. There are no issues in that camp, and there never really are. It’s one mission and everyone’s on the same page.

7. Luck
Amazing that Federer came in at the right time with Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic floundering. What were the odds that neither Murray nor Djokovic would reach even reach a final in Melbourne/Indian Wells/Miami? That’s almost as stunning as Federer’s return!

As for the rest, there’s Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka. Nadal isn’t what he used to be and Roger’s deep in Stan’s head. The young guns like Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Zverev are still evolving and Juan Martin Del Potro still needs some seasoning.

Plus, Roger got a much-needed decent early draw in Australia having to face qualifier Jurgen Melzer followed by Noah Rubin. Then the mentally-weak Berdych who rolled over after the first game. So Roger had some time to find his footing before the second part of the tournament.

And the weather was quite pleasant in Melbourne as it was at Indian Wells and Miami.

So Federer’s timing is, as usual, impeccable. But having Lady Luck on your side always helps!

I read what Janko Tipsarevic said, and I agree had Novak been in his early 2016 form, I don’t think Federer beats him in Melbourne, but I’d give Roger a decent shot at Indian Wells.

And as I said, the court speed in Australia helped Roger, but I don’t put a lot of stock in that. Not anymore after seeing how Roger has played at Indian Wells and Miami. Remember, Rafa was up a break in the fifth and lost. That’s not court speed! That’s mental.

So what’s to come? Well, Roger’s on a well-earned break. Might he come back for Rome? He might if he gets the itch. Otherwise, we’ll see him give it a go at the French, where again expectations — just as they were in Melbourne — will be low (funny how he’s able to do that).

That all changes on the grass where right now you’d have to make him the favorite. At least I do.

To argue that Murray would have stopped RF….. May be Novak, but Andy, not a prayer. RF won the AO a real hard way. Four top 10 players and 3 five setters. There was no stopping him on that surface. Novak crashed out because of the pace off the surface. He would have had a chance in Miami, not AO

to which you provided 7 answers, most of them speculative and some even from a fan-boy perspective.

In the interest of objectivity, here is yet another answer, no more or less speculative than those 7 you’ve provided. Courtesy of a Dutch blog dedicated to integrity in the sport of tennis, i.e. anti-match fixing, anti-doping, etc…

I love how tennispurist contrasts Federer’s 2016 forearm while he is completely fresh to his 2017 forearm when he is soaked in sweat and obviously pumped. If that’s the kind of comparison you want to do, why not compare his 2017 veinless forearm from the top picture?

Apologies in advance for the repetition; I think a typo in my username caused moderation.

Federer had used his old racquet to return to No. 1 during the 12 months between the 2011 US Open and 2012 Cincinnati Open. Federer’s 12,135 ATP points at end August 2012 was more than Djokovic ‘s 2014 season and almost as much as the No. 1 seasons of Nadal 2010, Djokovic 2012 or Murray 2016! Federer compiled a 72-8 win-loss (90%) with 9 titles: 1 Slam title (17th major title and 7th Wimbledon), 1 World Tour Finals title, 3 Slam semifinals, 4 Masters 1000 titles, 3 ATP 500 titles. Federer reached the World No. 1 ranking again to pass Pete Sampras’s record and then break the 300-week milestone. Remember: while Federer did his on-court accomplishments he also had a very busy year as the ATP Player Council president negotiating prize money increases and other benefits for all players – these negotiations were mostly done during the fortnight of each Grand Slam and Masters 1000 tournament.

After winning 2012 Cincinnati (where Federer bageled Djokovic), Federer’s level voluntarily dropped and he effectively surrendered the No. 1 ranking to Djokovic. Roger’s 76% (16-5 win-loss) after 2012 Cincinnati was similar to 2013’s 73% (45-17). Federer later explained that “the 300 and Shanghai was that important to me. The goal was to get back to No. 1, not finish the year end No. 1. That’s exactly how it all happened. I’m happy that I achieved my goals.“ (See “Federer takes on role as backroom power broker” Nov 2012 ). Federer even chose to play a meaningless Davis Cup tie. Federer could have ended 2012 as the year-end No. 1 but he did not care enough about it to do what Pete Sampras had done in 1998 (play as many Fall tournaments as possible to gain the ranking points to remain No. 1 at year-end).

Sun Sentinel (Florida newspaper): “The talk is Federer has changed his game to playing more aggressive and with a harder edge to his backhand. (Federer) shook his head, saying, “That’s exaggerated.” The real story is he’s in shape like he hasn’t been for a while. After missing much of last season with a knee injury, he trained for four months. That has led to him playing two straight months of tennis — something he’s never done. “It shows,’’ he said. “And I guess it shows to other players that if you take time to work on your game it pays off in the long run.” ”

When Federer is fit, well trained, well-practiced and confident, he can make amazing things happen with his old racquet. Watch Federer’s amazing backhand beating Nadal 6-3 6-0 at 2011 World Tour Finals using his old smaller racquet. In fact, after the 2017 Australian, Federer’s coach Severin Luthi pointed out this match to the Swiss media to show that Federer had already used that backhand and aggressive positioning against Nadal before.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MTZQCdYNm8

Watch Federer’s amazing backhand beating Agassi 6-3 6-0 6-4 at 2003 World Tour Finals (Tennis Masters Cup) using his old smaller racquet. Now imagine how Federer would have played those matches if only 2003 Federer and 2011 Federer had been able to use today’s larger racquethttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKsDvwunq38

Federer could have put in the intensive training block (that he did for five months before the Australian Open) at any time in the past seven years since 2010 Australian. But he did not. He did not need to. Even with a season like 2016, Federer is still the athlete with the most off-court income in all sports. While we fans are obsessed about players winning more majors and other big titles, a great player like Federer has gone beyond all this since he won the 2010 Australian, giving him an overall record that Nadal and Djokovic have still been unable to surpass today. That Federer is putting in so much effort recently is probably due to the fact that his productive time is likely to come to an end in the next 10 to 20 months. Federer has a renewed zest for the sport because he’s confident and winning big titles in a row — again.

Through the first three months, Murray and Djokovic got lucky and avoided the best player in the world Roger Federer. Had Federer run into Murray in Melbourne Roger probably would have won in straight sets: Since 2014, Murray won only one set in losing his last five matches against Federer (who even bageled Murray in his hometown of London). The head to head between Djokovic and Federer are much closer than most people presume: Since 2014, Djokovic had only a 8-6 winning record over Federer (Djokovic won 21 sets while Federer won 19 sets). Had Federer run into Djokovic in Melbourne Roger probably would have won in four sets. When Djokovic lost Indian Wells, he probably realized he was in no shape to compete with Federer in Miami and so took time off probably to invest in an intensive training block hoping to be competitive in the clay season. When Federer returns in the French Open, Djokovic, Murray and Nadal will be hoping to avoid Federer in the draw.

It’s true that Federer has poise under pressure and knows how to come through. As tennis channel’s Steve Flink noted: “that Federer was even in the final at Miami was a testament to his mental toughness, unwavering determination and extraordinary poise under pressure.” Perhaps more important, a confident Federer knows how to raise his game at the key stages of big matches to discombobulate his opponent’s confidence, rhythm and momentum. As Simon Barnes noted about Federer: “But again and again he found something more. That, every bit as much as his wonderful racket skill, is what Federer does best. He can raise his game and then raise it again. He has more raises than any one else in history.”

The Australian Open is the toughest major to win because the other Big 5 Players are well prepared for it. No other major is so dominated by the Big 5 Players: Between 2011 and 2016 the only AO finalists were Djokovic (5), Murray (4), Nadal (2) and Wawrinka (1). Even Federer failed to reach a final during this period. When Nadal returned in 2013 after a 7 month-break, he avoided the 2013 Australian Open and a Davis Cup tie. During that major event, Nadal was playing a golf league tournament in Spain from mid-November to end-January (which he won). He returned to play minor clay court events in South America against weaker players and then played Indian Wells and Miami.

Federer’s coaches and team acquiesces to whatever Federer wants. Had Federer not decided to focus on an intensive training block for five months to ensure he is 100% conditioned, trained and practiced before 2017 Australian, he would not have survived more than a few rounds. Without adequate preparation, even Federer is vulnerable to a 116-ranked Donskoy (Dubai). When Federer is well prepared and confident, he tends to win titles. The reality is that, after 2010 Australian and 2016 season, Federer came into most tournaments only with 60% to 80% preparation – and relied on his competitiveness, mental toughness and tennis smarts to win matches. One period that Federer did put in 90% effort — using his old racquet and playing style — was during the 12 months between the 2011 US Open and 2012 Cincinnati Open in order to return to No. 1. But most other periods he simply was not fit enough, often losing five set matches or matches following five-set matches – yet at age 35 he is so fit he can endure 3 five setters to win the Australian. Had Federer put in as much effort between 2010 and 2016 as he did this year, he would have won 6 to 10 more major titles at the expense of the other Big 5 players.

Luck has nothing to do with Federer being a 35-year old man who is 5 to 6 years older than Djokovic, Murray and Nadal. Had Federer faced Murray or Djokovic’s early-round opponents in Australia (Istomin, Zverev, etc.), he probably would have taken them to school – like he did with Mischa Zverev, conquerer of Murray. Federer has been one of the fittest tennis players who thrives in the heat – whenever he puts in the conditioning. The way he won the Australian, Indian Wells and Miami just proves it.

In 2013 people said Rafas amazing run was suspicious, and questions were also raised about Novaks amazing run in 2011 that came from nowhere, yet nobodies said a word about Federer and raised an eyebrow this year, not that im not saying anyone of the players could be up to no good, just hate the double standards that go around these forums ….

How is Roger Federer doing it ??
He’s doing it by being better than everyone else . Isn’t he supposed to have the best game of all tennis players ??!
He found a solution to his only highly exploited weakness.- it’s that simple.
My car, which can go faster than any other car wouldn’t go as fast as it should go. I got it fixed and won the race.- it’s very simple and straightforward.

I Think my post was merely objective, same was said about Rafa and Novak when they were having their amazing years, yet god forbid anything is said about Federer, and why shouldnt posters discuss a possible grey area, unfortunatly its the world we live in, and BTW i dont hate Federer, what i hate is double standards ….

@willow, I;ve seen many novak and nadal fans accuse federer of doping, so I don;t understand the double standard you speak off. Even on this forum you had two people posting about doping before your commenent.

It was to be expected, federer back to winning ways has clearly been very painfull for some fandoms. Here is hoping federer will dominate ther whole year!

@willow The taxi driver just raised a question
@travisbickle did you read the whole article? According to the writer it is a given that Nadal, Djokovic and Ferrer are all inveterate dopers. If Fed has doped he has just joined the club, even playing field and all that.

Also, the 3 tourneys he winnhad several rest days in between matches. AO is a Slam (you don’t play 2 days in a row). IW played over 10-11 days and he won it easily withiut dripping a set, no long matches.
Miami also played over 11 days and the only grinding matches were Berdy/Kyrgios which he got a day rest tonface Rafa in 90 minutes later.

He won most of this run easy or with time to rest. And even so he looked tired in Miami.

Different than enduring those backslash djoko and Nadal were in 2011, way way more grinding. Bit that’s part of their different games

TBH I Dont even post on this rotten forum much anymore, as ive better things to do with my time, i just think as its a topic that gets discussed all the time with players, i didnt appreciate been told to get a life, just because some of us want to discuss a grey area, and about that life H/S wants me to get well too late, as i already have one, a great one, PEACE ….

Some Rafa fans like Giles are so pissed off that Fed has further cemented himself as the goat; they just don’t know what to do. They can’t control or improve Nadals game , so all try do is try to bring down Fed.

Oh i give up, im not bringing down anybody, i think Federes an amazing player the best ever, if ive said it once ive said it a million, zillion, trillion bloomin times, i just think when one player gets suspected of wrong doings, so should everyone ….

How easily people are swayed by the unsubstantiated doping speculations of the self-professed ‘Tennis Purist’. Look at his face (see his Twitter link) – is this the face of a ‘Purist’? Look at his eye area, do you see signs of doping at one of Amsterdam’s cannabis coffee shops? Do you think he understands the fitness required to compete against a 12-year old kid? Read his twitter postings. Does any rational person believe he knows what this guy is yapping about?https://twitter.com/thetennispurist?lang=en

What really explains Federer’s high performance right now but not for most of the last 7 years? Answer: he always could have done this (or better), but simply did not — until this year.

Federer played brilliantly this year because he was 100% prepared given the 4 to 5 months of conditioning, training and practice he did before the Australian.

A younger Federer could have played even better in 2010 or 2011 or 2013 or 2014 or 2015 0r 2016 – if only he prepared and trained just as well as he did for 2017.

However, when he is not adequately prepared even 2017 Federer can lose to a 116-ranked qualifier like Donskoy at Dubai. After winning the Australian it was obvious that Federer was milking the publicity and had spent most of his time off the court. He did not prepare enough for Dubai and he was vulnerable to a loss to an unheralded player.

My belief is that in the seven years after the 2010 Australian Open and up to the 2016 season, Federer has – for the most part – been playing with only about 60 to 80% preparation (less conditioning, less training and less practice) than he has done for this 2017 year.

When he won the 2010 Australian, Federer surely knew he had accomplished virtually everything he needed to accomplish in professional tennis. Two years later in March 2012, Federer was ranked the GOAT of all tennis players in Tennis Channel’s 100 Greatest (mostly based on what he had achieved by 2010 AO). Those overall accomplishments at age 28 seven years ago still put him ahead of today’s Nadal and Djokovic. After winning an unprecedented 16 of 27 slams between 2003 Wimbledon and 2010 Australian, Federer had earned the right to take a break from the ATP Tour to focus on his growing family; the ATP Player Council presidency; his off-court businesses, sponsors and commercials; his charity foundation; etc.

But Federer remained on the ATP tour, so he cruised along at 60 to 80% for most part. Between 2010 and 2016, Federer was underprepared for most tournaments and mostly relied on his talent and competitiveness to win or grind out wins. During this 7-year period a younger Federer was mostly less fit and was vulnerable in the fourth or fifth set against top players. He was also vulnerable in matches following a five-setter. Yet a fitter 35-year old Federer was able to win the 2017 Australian despite playing three five setters. Federer is playing better today simply because he has put in the level of preparation necessary that he had not been doing for most of the past 7 years after the 2010 Australian (with the exception of the one year period 2011 US Open to 2012 Cincinnati).

As showed in my earlier post (see above), one period that Federer did put in more effort was during the 12 months between the 2011 US Open and 2012 Cincinnati Open in order to return to No. 1, 31-year old Federer’s 12,135 ATP points at end August 2012 was more than Djokovic ‘s 2014 season and almost as much as the No. 1 seasons of Nadal 2010, Djokovic 2012 or Murray 2016. He even indirectly admitted that he gave up the No. 1 ranking back to Djokovic once he achieved his goal of breaking Pete Sampras’s weeks at No. 1 record.

Federer probably could have won 6 to 10 more major titles had he pushed himself 100% in training and practice during these last seven years. But most of that time he did not. He did not have to. In the big picture, it helps his legacy that Nadal and Djokovic will go down in history as such great players during his era.

Willow: enough, please, with the “double standard” nonsense. Because Federer’s renaissance bears no resemblance to Nadal’s and Djokovic’s.

The latter two are able to run like rabbits for five hours without tiring and hit with heavy power and spin, that’s how they win. Nadal generates incredible power and never gets tired despite his biomechanically inefficient technique, and Djokovic suddenly developed the ability to outrally his opponents after going “gluten-free.” Their success depends on strength, endurance, speed: attributes that are easily boosted with PEDs.

Federer’s different. He’s taking the ball just a touch earlier, on the rise, and stepping inside the baseline more often during the rallies, hitting aggressive, deep returns and half-volleying balls that other players wouldn’t even attempt. This is made possible by the new, larger racket which allows him to take more risks and really drive his backhand and flatten out his groundstrokes.

All of this robs his opponents of time and allows him to impose his game earlier and finish the points quicker. He is no faster in defense than he was. He just doesn’t need to play quite as much defense if he uses all his strengths–supreme hand-eye coordination, timing, reflexes, and precise footwork–to shorten the points. No PED is yet capable of giving anyone those attributes.

All of these slices of a second he’s taking away from his opponents add up over the course of a match. Not only does it reduce the strain on his aging body, but it prevents his opponents from playing long rallies. If Nadal and Djokovic have no time to defend and extend the points, they’re at a disadvantage.

Even so, it’s still tiring for Federer–he’s taking the unprecedented step of skipping nearly the entire clay season in order to recuperate from the strain of winning IW/Miami back to back. PEDs would allow him to play 20 tournaments a year like the old days.

Let’s stop with the alternative facts, here: yes, Federer IS more talented, he does have superior hand-eye coordination, timing, and footwork compared to his peers. Yes, the racket he is using is verifiably bigger than the one he used until 2014. And no, he’s not beating his opponents by grinding them down in forty- or fifty-shot rallies over four or five hours, the way Nadal and Djokovic do.

Your claims of a double standard are based on utterly spurious reasoning. It’s not a double standard to say 2+2=4 is true and 2+2=5 is false. It’s not “fairness” or “justice” to go around saying that 2+2 = 5 is as plausible as 2+2=4. It’s just bullshit.

True is true, false is false–they are not “equally plausible” and those of us who point this out are not “hypocrites.” To put truth and lies on the same plane, to say they are just two equally valid sides that both deserve consideration, is not justice. It is really the ultimate in nihilism. It means that you’ve entered an Orwellian world where there is no truth, that reality is whatever you find it convenient.

So please, stop with your handwringing about “hypocrisy” and “fairness.” It’s nothing of the kind.

Ha ha looks like Federer is too generous giving up # 1 ranking to Djoko and helping Nadal and Djoko to win a few slams!!! Thanks Tony N for shedding new light on Fed’s big heart! Maybe the church will canmonise him. St Roger!!!

I think there is no double standard with Willow. It is definitely double standard with Fed fans who raise the spectre of doping when others do well but claim it is all due to conditioning and needed rest when an almost 36 year old Fed comes back and sweeps the first quarter of the season.

Steve-O,My goodness, wasnt quite ready for that acid bath from you, i thought we were all entitled to our opinion, but i guess thats only some, god forbid some of us have the audacity to raise questions concerning your favorite, i dont even come here often anymore, and quite frankly i dont care if i never do again, its all yours ….

How many local doctors handle the doping-checking ritual on a local level – as far as possible? Does the Doctor phone and say “Hi, you are due again…does a week on Monday suit?” I’ve heard of one whose appointments/arrangements could cause a few frowns.

Certainly didn’t happen for Andy Murray – they arrived at his house as he was leaving for a Palace award – and wouldn’t leave until they checked.

Let’s use common sense. Obviously the ATP pro players have their suspicions of who is or is not doping. Thus it is significant that the players voted to award Federer the ATP Sportsmanship Award in an unprecedented 12 years since 2004. The players are rational — they would not have voted so many times for Federer if they suspected him of doping.

Players understand what makes Federer special. Robin Soderling after losing the 2009 French Open final to Federer playing with his old smaller racquet: “Now I learned that it’s not that I played bad, he (Federer) makes me play bad. So that’s what’s so difficult playing against him… (Federer and Nadal are) both great players, of course, but they have different game styles. I think Roger’s game doesn’t suit my game at all. He doesn’t allow me to be aggressive. He always had me on the run today. With Rafa, it’s different. It’s easier to be aggressive, you know. In all my matches against Rafa I think I dictated the game, I dictated the play. But against Roger, for me, it’s been so far impossible to do that… I played (Federer), so I know. I never played anyone playing that fast. He’s a great player. He doesn’t have any weaknesses at all. He really deserves to be called the best player of all time.” From tennis X archives

Now add the advantages that Federer gets with his new larger racquet.

What Federer did this year is consistent with what he has been able to do in the past whenever he puts in the training and preparation. The vast majority of plays that Federer did this year, he has done before. Federer not only plays in a different way from virtually all other players, he also plays the games and points differently and more intelligently – e.g., in order to conserve his dwindling energy supply in second set of the Miami final, Federer efficiency strolled through the first few games with Nadal ensuring that he protected his serve without getting drawn into long baseline duels. And then, in the appropriate game, Federer raised his level to break Nadal and close the match. Those who have watched Federer for a long time understand what he’s doing.

Unfortunately some fail to unable to understand how Federer does it (because he plays so differently from their favorite player) – in their denial, it is comforting to simply accuse Federer of doping without any rational argument. Take that ‘Tennis Purist’ who worships a player (Guga Kuerten) may be more likely to have doped than Federer – once we read his twitter postings, we realize that his arguments are dubious.

Lackie, thanks for shedding light that you still don’t get it, do you? Federer was not being “generous giving up # 1 ranking to Djoko and helping Nadal and Djoko to win a few slams” in the 7 years after 2010 Australian and 2016 season. He simply did not care. Having set the standard and benchmarks for the best overall resume in tennis by winning 2010 Australian and later padding it by breaking 300 weeks at No. 1 and winning Wimbledon in 2012, it was just not important to Federer to keep on winning at the unprecedented pace he set from 2003 Wimbledon to 2010 Australian. He was basically showing up 60% to 80% prepared at most events, and relying on his tennis intelligence, natural physical talents, competitiveness and mental toughness to play matches. He ended up grinding out some wins, relying on more conservative playing patterns because he lacked the full confidence to be consistently aggressive. He really did not care that he lost a few matches and titles to Nadal and Djokovic – since mature Federer is not a kid who needs to win everything and who now has a wider life. What’s probably more important is the publicity of remaining on the tour, which helps to fuel his incredible off-court income that’s the highest in all sports.

I am sure Fed is consulted before the dope checking squad turns up!
Seriously, if Fed is doping on HGH, they have to test within a few hours otherwise they cannot find out as HGH also naturally occurs in the body.
Andy is the least favored member of the big 4. No wonder the poor guy was disturbed just before he was going for his award.
He is generally given the worst draw, bad schedules and outside courts. He was even made to play on outside courts at Wimbledon till local protests ensured he is now treated better.

The issue is not why Federer got better; it was a simple mix of a good amount of rest and taking the ball a bit early and hitting it through with his BH. The question is the nosedive of Novak’s form after FO 2016; what was he drinking in 2015 and early 2016? And, since conspiracy theory seems to rule here today, why did it coincide with Maria’s banishment.

lakie,
You’ve been splunked on the subject, give it up. This all started erroneously by the Church, with a conspiracy induced blogger. Wonder why? LMAO.
No facts, no story, no real news, just fake news.
Move along, there are no Droids here.

Yes. For Andy, bad schedules and outside courts. However, I like to believe in the honesty of the draws…as being somewhat of a lottery….mainly because I can’t figure out how they could be otherwise.

As far as doping goes there has been slippage in information – some rather disturbing – so I don’t believe all players are tested according to best practice rules….and the alarmist information was not directed at Rafa who was accused by a French-female in the past.

Hi to Willow.

As to a few other new posters – welcome – but to those who write short stories on TX – please remember it needs a beginning, a middle and an end ……and you have to capture your reader in the first sentence. ……I was yawning very early and then skipped – so apologies for not reading those elongated potentially significant lectures all the way thru.

Fed’s technique changed, improved, and took time too learn with a more powerful racket, not how fast he can run, hard he can hit a ball and how long he can last on the court. Fed is NOT going to win a 5 hour battle on court. Funny though, others have.

There’s no need to defend Federer. The guy is the best and when you’re the best, jealous people will shoot you down any way they can. All these unsavory remarks from his naysayers only speak of how great Federer is and how much that bothers other people whose favorites can not measure up to. 35 and still lording it over everyone. Smile Fed fans. Let everybody else do the crying.

J-Kath, I do not know how the draws are rigged but apparently the pattern of past draws defies the odds. That means something is rotten in the state of Denmark. If Magicians can cut ladies in half under our noses, draws can be rigged with the world watching!
Now that Sir Andy is # 1, maybe ITF will get him old guys (aged 30+) ranked around 128 to meet him in the 1st and 2nd rounds!

Lakie: Doubt it…..but I dream on….although Andy did have one good draw recently ….during his elbow, viral flu and Shingles episodes…(the latter I do worry about – it never wholly goes away, no matter how youthful one is).

18 majors is not an alternative fact. It’s a happy truth. Well, at least for Federer fans. For those who don’t like Federer, it’s another reason to concoct some alrernative facts. I must say they are quite creative, but alternative facts still, nonetheless.

lakie, you have lost it for crying too much. My post had norhing to do with Tony N whatsoever. I was merely stating a number. 18 is a number. It’s concrete. It’s objective. It’s an unadulterated fact. It’s not an alternative fact which you live in. Wipe your tears so can see and thnk clearly. Who do you like? Djokovic? Nadal? They are both very good and if they continue to play as well as they can, maybe by the time they reach the age of 35, they they can surpass 18…and then you won’t have to make up alternative facts anymore. Chin up, lakie, there still hope.

So Markus, you contradict yourself. Taking the alternative facts I mentioned, you went off on a tangent? Fed fan logic? Hilarious!!!
We have a fed fan comparing Fed to an angel and Djok to Satan, then we have Tony claiming Fed doesn’t want to win and lets his rivals get slams and #1. Now comes Markus claiming that I made up alternative facts!!! Poor Fed fans! Alternative Reality guys???

It’s ok, lakie. I feel your pain. I just got lucky I picked the right guy to be my favorite. But there’s no shame in picking somebody else. Stand by him. Who knows? Maybe he will catch up. If he does not, please, don’t feel feel that he let you down. Second best is not so bad, is it?

lakie, you got a really big problem if such obvious hyperboles bother you so much. Do you know anything about figures of speech? Similes, metaphors, ironies, hyperboles and such? Federer an angel and Djokovic as Satan? Hahaha! Poor fragile lakie. I know how it bothers you that Federer fans are so happy and sometimes resort to egregious language but please, don’t be so gullible. You can retort by saying Djokovic is an angel and Federer is Satan. I’m sure Fed fans will just have a big laugh and not take it too seriously.

“I get tested more in Switzerland because the guy from Switzerland lives in my village. He comes to see me the day after my surgery.”

Whose quotes are these? I’ll let you guess.

If I was an athlete, I sure would like to be dope-tested by my neighbour from my own village, who is also so nice to visit me the day after my surgery. That’s a text-book example of having right friends at right places…

The biggest thing for Fed is the extra 7 square inches of useable racquet head. If anyone here actually plays real life tennis, you would know what a huge difference it makes. i’ve played a few sets with the old Prostaff 90….shank city. He has dialed in the extra head area and committed to playing aggressive. Plain and simple. Hes always taken the ball earlier then anyone else, now he can do it more comfortably.

There is NO evidence of any of this, so if there is none, then the critiques are either Fed haters, jealous, envious or all of the above. Why aren’t you talking about Novak’s year of beating Rafa in 7 straight finals? Kettle meet Black. Must be tough to accept a 35 yr old just won his 18th Slam in the Stroooooong era.

Seriously, do these pundits really know what peds do? Apparently not, but look towards the many conspiracy articles that have been written about Novak and Rafa and you’ll get better clarity.

My imho is that none of the top players are/have been using, unless there is evedence like Sharapova and others that facutally comes out.

I assume you wanted to say that you don’t think I am an athlete. In English language that would be written as follows:
“But you are not.”

Or, abbreviated:
“But you’re not.”

The way you wrote it doesn’t imply a typo, but lack of fundamental English literacy. But I digress…

I posted few independent links and quotes. I did not insult a single poster here nor said anything bad about any player. Yet, your panties seems to be in a twist for some reason. Fine by me, that doesn’t bother me a bit, I am even voluntarily helping you with your English. Only, please do not let your rage get better of you and abuse your cats tonight!!!
(or should I say “you’re” cats ;-)

TB,
I know fully aware what your agenda here has been lately, and in exposing it’s failures, your response is trying to correct me in the english language? That’s all you got?
You need to give up the Taxi stuff, and go to Uber.

You likely wanted to say:
It’s now down to grammar. Running out of straws. Teach me, please.

“It’s” is an abbreviation of two following words: “It is”

On the other hand, the word “its” you (incorrectly) used in your post is the possessive for of the word “it” typically used as an adjective, for example: Federer fanatic is a creature that is infamous for its stupidity and complete lack of objectivity.

When you want to say that something is “down to something” you should use “to” instead of your “too”, which has entirely different meaning.
“Grammer” is not a word.
You improperly used “off” in your sentence.
You cannot ask someone to “learn you” in English.

Dear Markus, you managed to make 5 (five) errors in the three simple sentences you wrote, containing no more than 12 words. That is remarkable and implies seriously diminished mental capacity. I am not holding it against you at all, just pointing it out since it is something extra-ordinary.

You used “it’s” when you were supposed to use “its” and your soulmate Markus used “its” when he was supposed to use “it’s”!
You two are coordinated in your mistakes, reminds me of the funny 1994 movie I’ve seen as a kid starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels…

You have certainly opened some doors here Sean and for anyone (plenty here) who rely on the doping, how utterly ridiculous.

We all know that there was a change in physique with Rafa, Willow, you only need to look at the bulging muscles that dissipated over a period of time – and how would one get that physique? In the gym? possibly.

With Roger, he is so super skinny. His arms, are in no way muscley, and let’s not forget shall we that if you are saying he is on drugs, then the ATP is flawed right? Because they test 1 hour before competition and straight after he won the tournament.

So seriously,Giles, and others, get a life.

Rafa has been open about having stem cell therapy on his knees – should that be allowed? regrowth over a period of time so that he comes back without having to wear those bandages over his knees, but I prefer to believe that Rafa is telling the truth. That is choice.

As for Roger, it is simply a no brainer – when you have an elongated rest period and come back with the hunger reinvigorated, you play as free as a bird. He has been playing as free as a bird, and it really shows. He has not given himself any pressure, no expectations and then has gone on to exceed more than he could ever have thought – it is only the bitter and the angry who could ever wish bad things on an athlete with such natural, god given talent.

Reabirth Says:

How is Roger Federer doing it? Well, because he’s the greatest tennis player of all time and one of the best athletes ever.

April 9th, 2017 at 6:30 am

So put your jealousies away, you nasties out there – and rejoice in the talent, we are unlikely to ever see again.

J-Kath Says:
How many local doctors handle the doping-checking ritual on a local level – as far as possible? Does the Doctor phone and say “Hi, you are due again…does a week on Monday suit?” I’ve heard of one whose appointments/arrangements could cause a few frowns.

Certainly didn’t happen for Andy Murray – they arrived at his house as he was leaving for a Palace award – and wouldn’t leave until they checked.

April 9th, 2017 at 4:24 pm

I will say it again, I have watched many interviews with RF, the ATP are there, ready, within 10 minutes and can arrive at any time, as you state, so why would the ATP drug test players, 10 minutes before competition and be there, BEFORE the players go to press, are you crazy?

So everyone is lying I guess. We should have no faith in a) The ATP, b) the players that we have followed for a substantial amount of our lives.

Nothing wrong with Skeezer’s analogies – we federer fans understand the code, *know what I’m sayin’?’ – we don’t need to be so precise on a blog, it isn’t a formal piece of writing, although you would think so with the free tuition you are offering.

Roger Federer has urged tennis authorities to come up with more funding for anti-doping and believes that testing should be conducted at the quarter-final stage of every tournament.

Dubai, does not seem to fare well, although Europe is much stricter with the testing – as it should be,

What is the right amount and what’s not? Clearly, I was very surprised [about Sharapova]; I thought she was going to announce her retirement. But it also shows that the famous players can get caught in the system.

“It seems to be working. I still believe we should keep blood samples for 10 years, so athletes and tennis players know that’s the case, that you could get punished retroactively. I’m a big believer in that.”

Federer also admitted that when living in Dubai he has only been drug tested once in a decade, despite the 17-time Grand Slam winner owning a house and spending two months per year there.

“I’ve been in Dubai for 10 years now and I’ve been tested once in 10 years – that’s not OK for me,” he said.

“I get tested more in Switzerland because a tester lives in my village. He comes and sees me the day after my surgery and a week later.

It shows two Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) given to Nadal. The Spaniard was given approval for betamethasone, a corticosteroid used for reducing inflammation, in 2009 following the U.S. Open.

He was also approved for the use of corticotrophins in 2012, during the period in which he was sidelined from the tour with another knee injury. The TUE was required because corticotrophins are prohibited for use even when athletes are not competing.

madmax. Just give it up, silly. Whatever he had done to mend his knees were completely legal, all with the approval of the atp.
Can you explain Feds resurgence at the tender age of 35/36? Unheard of in the tennis world TBH. And don’t tell me it’s his big bat and the miraculous strength in his BH after all these years. It’s just codswallop!
Delusional fan! :)

Mr. Bicker, my wipe say I make 6 missteak, not 5 like you says. She say “Running out off strasw?” not a cmplete sentense becaus no noun. Ok to speak but not to rite. I think my wipe better tits than you for me.

Hahaha. Now they’re trying to laugh off their ignorance of the English language, makes sense for them I suppose. Did you know that English is the hardest language in the world?
Still, there’s always room for improvement.
Markus used to be a really nice poster before he got corrupted by the fedfans.
Keep laughing Markus!

Dear Giles: Your attention is most flattering. I got fired from my last job for being too accommodating and thus exposing everyone else – so I sought the solace of a return to Tx to niggle and giggle with the rest of you. Alas, all good things must end – and after Easter I’ll be gone again.

J-Kath!
Don’t go anywhere! You are great – I think you misunderstand me.

It is Giles who is the child.

He has nothing else to go on. He is waiting for the 5 affairs that Fed is having behind Mirka’s back, the copious amounts of steroids that he has been on, since the age of 7 – you know, the usual drivel that comes from Giles because he has nothing better to do.

Giles cannot appreciate that Fed’s natural talent, his easy on the eye game, well, he makes it look easy, has stood him in good stead, as he has never been that type of player, where he bashes the ball, things have come gracefully to his game, natural talent. Some would envy.

If I didn’t know any better, I would think that Giles is a wee bit jealous.

Giles, with your wealth of knowledge about the drugs world (now there begs a question or two), do try to respond to the email I sent, won’t you?

It shows two Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) given to Nadal. The Spaniard was given approval for betamethasone, a corticosteroid used for reducing inflammation, in 2009 following the U.S. Open.

He was also approved for the use of corticotrophins in 2012, during the period in which he was sidelined from the tour with another knee injury. The TUE was required because corticotrophins are prohibited for use even when athletes are not competing.

madmax. You are really starting to annoy me now. In the drivel you posted did you perchance ale note of the two key words e.g. ” approved ” and ” approval” eh ?? Nothing more to say on the subject you are trying to create!
And what of Feds new found stamina and gusto, eh? The man is 35/36, not 25/26 ! Strange indeed.

Fed is obviously advocating strict anti doping measures for others lest they threaten his fiefdom.
madmax, HGH and blood doping do not lead to bulging muscles. Arms can be skinny.
By the way, did you see Fed’s shoulder and back muscles? Huge!!!

I understand that as there is no Wada approved lab near Dubai any out of competition doping tests (surprise tests) would be just urine tests , no blood tests. So if someone is doping on HGH or blood, he is safe.
In any case there are no surprise tests for Fed who sees everyone by appointment only.
There used to be mandatory doping tests in competition if anyone reached the semis. But since 2012, such tests have been discontinued. Wonder why…..

Blood doping and HGH are most common in tennis and have been around but unfortunately it is very difficult to detect them until a test is done in a very narrow time gap. Troicki and Cilic were caught but came up with some wild stories which were accepted. It is quite possible all the big 4 are doping but with corruption in sports, the rich guys are safe. Fed’s recent resurgence is definitely very suspicious.At 35-36, the new found stamina and speed …..?

Madmax all i was saying was you cant rule it out as a possibility, as for the life everyone wants me to get, i have one and its pretty bloody amazing, i like tennis, but it doesnt dominate my life, as for Federer hes amazing, the best ever, said it enough times ….

Lackie: “Tony N, so Fed doesn’t care for # 1 ranking or for winning slams?… According to Tony N, Fed doesn’t care to win slams. So the question is, how did he get 18 and why at age 36 he is still playing?”… then we have Tony claiming Fed doesn’t want to win and lets his rivals get slams and #1.”

Lackie, you parrot your alternative facts that misrepresents what I had posted and omit the chronology in order to conflate Federer’s attitude between 2010 and 2016 with his attitude this year. Stick to the meaning and facts of what I had posted.

In the seven years between 2003 Wimbledon and 2010 Australian Open: winning slams and No. 1 ranking was a priority to Federer (he won 16 of 27 slams and was No. 1 for about 274 weeks)

In the next seven years after 2010 Australian and up to the 2016 season: Winning was not a priority to Federer, except for certain periods and tournaments (e.g., between 2011 US Open and 2012 Cincinnati). Federer “Having set the standard and benchmarks for the best overall resume in tennis by winning 2010 Australian and later padding it by breaking 300 weeks at No. 1 and winning Wimbledon in 2012, it was just not as important to Federer to keep on winning at the unprecedented pace he set from 2003 Wimbledon to 2010 Australian. He was basically showing up 60% to 80% prepared at most events, and relying on his tennis intelligence, natural physical talents, competitiveness and mental toughness to play matches. He ended up grinding out some wins, relying on more conservative playing patterns because he lacked the full confidence to be consistently aggressive. He really did not care that he lost a few matches and titles to Nadal and Djokovic – since mature Federer is not a kid who needs to win everything and who now has a wider life. What’s probably more important is the publicity of remaining on the tour, which helps to fuel his incredible off-court income that’s the highest in all sports.”
In 2012, when Federer regained the No. 1 ranking, he did not bother to put in the extra effort to fight for the year-end No. 1 that was within reach: “After winning 2012 Cincinnati (where Federer bageled Djokovic), Federer’s level voluntarily dropped and he effectively surrendered the No. 1 ranking to Djokovic. Roger’s 76% (16-5 win-loss) after 2012 Cincinnati was similar to 2013’s 73% (45-17). Federer later explained that “the 300 and Shanghai was that important to me. The goal was to get back to No. 1, not finish the year end No. 1. That’s exactly how it all happened. I’m happy that I achieved my goals.“ (See “Federer takes on role as backroom power broker” Nov 2012 ). Federer even chose to play a meaningless Davis Cup tie. Federer could have ended 2012 as the year-end No. 1 but he did not care enough about it to do what Pete Sampras had done in 1998 (play as many Fall tournaments as possible to gain the ranking points to remain No. 1 at year-end).”

In the 2017 season (at least first quarter): winning is again a priority to Federer. This year (at least first quarter), Federer is motivated to get to 18 (19 and 20) and play at age 35/36: “That Federer is putting in so much effort recently is probably due to the fact that his productive time is likely to come to an end in the next 10 to 20 months.” Federer today is playing with the same attitude and sense of urgency he had between 2004 and 2007, except with a better racquet and a more sensible schedule for his age.

This is just ridiculous. Can’t we all appreciate the BIG four and what they have done for the sports ?
Why we always have to badmouth other great’s in order to feel better about our favorite ?
Novak had an unreal run on 2011, 2015 even 16. Not because he was taking some sort of substance, but because he was THAT good. He absolutely dominated the field.
How about Rafa’s resurgence in 2013 after such a long injury period ?
He upped his game, his serve, his amazing forehand and swept the field aside. He was not on drugs either.
As for the recent resurgence of fed. I have no idea why people are even SURPRISED over this ??? Doping…. SERIOUSLY ?
Since 2014 (after his injury prone 2013), fed is knocking the door on most of Slams. He would have 1 slam in 2014, 2 slams in 2015 had it not for NOVAK. He was the 2nd best player of that time when novak was dominating . He was also beating him in best of 3 sets (he was 3-2 against novak in 2014, 3-5 in 2015).

Fed took the right decision and regrouped, practiced new tactics with Ivan, his backhand and played like a free bird (injury free) and all the hard work payed dividends in the end. How is it surprising ?
He is playing super aggressive tennis, taking proper rest. He is not even going to play the clay court season. In what way or form is THIS guy doping ???
Doping won’t give you skills, specially the skills fed posses.

Honestly, this is the least I had expected from this forum.
These guys have given us endless amount of joy . If you can’t appreciate them, then atleast RESPECT their achievements, their hard work and most importantly the life lessons they give us all (to never give up no matter what).

Fed, Rafa and Novak are the HEART of tennis. Try to Imagine Tennis without them (we won’t be having such type of discussion over here).
If ITF can punish the most popular female tennis player (M sharapova), then they can surely do the same to any other player who is doping. Till then, we should all enjoy the game, because these guys won’t last forever.

whine, whine whine. If it’s not Rafa, it’s Novak. If not Novak, then Fed.
Depends who is dominating atm, lol.

Fed’s latest domination came from changing and adapting to a bigger racket, getting proper rest, and an aggressive offensive game plan. Nothing else. Stamina was not required, nor bigger muscles that the tennis purist probably photoshopped.
To think his adversaries played with more advantageous rackets for a decade made his records so much more magnificent.

1) The doping allegations aren’t even worth dignifying with a response.
2) Federer, in current form, would have had little trouble handling either Murray or Djokovic. Seen several commentators make the argument that he’s benefited from their absence. Bologna. He’s 7-0 versus top 10 opponents this year.

Here is the link to the Tennis Purist blog. It’s an independent Dutch blog dedicated to purity in tennis, i.e. trying to be a voice against match-fixing and doping in tennis considering that official media have no interest in exposing what’s going on…

I’d like to draw everyone attention on that photo inside the article of Federer’s calf muscle (it’s taken either in Indian Wells or MIami this year). Muscularity (i.e. bulging veins) is eerily reminiscent of Lance Armstrong’s calf muscles during the times he was winning Tour de France in his mid-thirties!

To borrow the phrase Skeezer is in love with – just sayin’ …

Or, even better, just drawing the attention to strange occurrences – note, not accusing anyone, simply asking folks to read different sources from a standard media-offered narrative and think critically for themselves.
All US folks who were fiercely defending Lance Armstrong against French folks who knew all along he was a doper, looked pretty stupid once the extent of Lance’s doping and cheating was revealed. I care for Skeezer, Madmax, et al, and wouldn’t want them to be in the same predicament assuming something similar happens to their idol…

Why then didn´t you wrote or “just sayin” back in 2011?! When Djoko, a notorious quitter on the game with several retirements (no offense, just facs), suddenly became a “machine” of endurence, stamina, never getting tired, resilietn overcoming bretah problems and many others of his old habits.
And also he became more veiny.

If you look at all the legs of tennis players they are massive and fit as it can be. They have almost zero body fat in lower body. federe always had a “pot” in his belly bug his leags were always strong with defined calves. It´s byotyoe. Nadla doesn´t have the same calves as Federer, but he is roe strong in his upper body. Murray and Berdyh have tank like legs.

Is a never ending argument, people who are agaisnt Federer won´t just accept and they have to go with the easier answer, it happened to Nadal and with Djoko as well.

In their cases, they had the stamina and nedurence, results of doping. In fed´s case he has the defying age thing, although his game doesn´t resemble the others.

Soi anyone who is agaisnt one of these players will just choose to trust the doping as a get away easy answer; DENIAL

skeezer I do not have to be an authority on blood doping and HGH to know how they help tennis players. It is common knowledge. Also you can read about them to educate yourself.
Are you aware ITF conducts doping tests? Don’t tell me you did not know that doping is there in sports? Poor skeezer. Ignorance thy name is Fed fan.

Fed fans do not know what is PED, what is TUE, what is banned list and have no idea what blood doping and HGH doping are! Hilarious! And TB is wasting his time trying to teach them grammar. Grammar is the least of their problems.

Don’t you love it when people like lakie know a smidgen of a topic and all of a sudden start acting like an authority on the subject? The truth is, everything she has been writing is nothing more than hearsay. She accuses Federer without incontovertible evidence. That’s a typical bigot there. And of course, she won’t admit it. From her posts, she does have a touch of sociopathy.

Madmax to add, Nadal is my favorite, but i dont think hes perfect and i never have, if he were doping i would be dissapointed, but not entirely shocked or surprised, as unfortunatly its the world we live in, and i dont obsess over it, or everything he does ….

@lakie,
Show me where and what drug increases or enhances reflexes and who has been using that with success in the past.
Blood doping main impact is Stamina, HGH increases muscle mass. Both of which Fed has neither.
Now there are other drugs out there but the ones you mention don’t fall into your un founded bias of Feds improvement.
Which is, a bigger Racket and taking the ball early. Unless you think there is an illegal drug he is taking to improve his thinking tactics. lol.

Keep in mind you cannot put Fed in a box with this subject, then it will be only fair if you continue to harp on the matter to bring up the other top athletes that have had far more scrutiny and suspicion of this subject in the media.

skeezer, do you know what HGH is? It is often called the fountain of youth. Check out what it does.
As for stamina, Fed has plenty.
Anyway, I have made my point. Fed fans can think PED means pediatrician. I really do not care. I am not Socrates.

Your response was a joke?…or trying to be, but lacking a proper response. Furthermore, you answered with a question, which is even more lacking of credo. So, I will just assume you cannot provide me with such. Your lack of knowledge is disturbing….
This is what it does, none of which you mentioned earlier(Improve stamina, reflexes and speed.):https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_hormone_in_sports

I don’t think it’s particularly difficult to find a single photo of someone’s forearm and then use that photo as proof to build an entire hypothesis.

Mostly for fun, I skimmed the blog post that Travis Bickle linked earlier. The author also tries to substantiate the claim by saying that Federer is serving 2.2 more aces per match *now* than at any other point in his career. He must be really cracking the ball, then, to scoot it by his opponents so much more regularly…

His average first-serve speed during the AO finals was 115 mph. Wow! During his semi with Stan? 115.5 mph. His quarterfinal match? 114 mph. Fourth round? 117 mph. I could go on…if there’s anything apparent here, it’s that he lost a couple MPHs on his serve on average between the middle rounds and the later rounds. Perhaps because he was getting tired.

If Federer’s serve has ever been considered effective (which it has), it’s because of his placement, not pace.

One time when I was in grade school, my teacher instructed us to check articles we read for legitimate sources and then to keep following those sources back to a definitively legitimate, credible source. I tried to do this with that blog post, but every linked “source” just took me to some grouch on Twitter ;)

Since no one else did, I feel it necessary to point out that what is stated above about Troicki and Cilic is wrong. Neither was accused of HGH or blood doping at all. Gotta admit I have no particular like of either of these players, but just saying stuff that isn’t true, much as it is the fashion of the day, needs to be answered.

Cilic was found to have an obscure and pretty low-powered stimulant in his blood. He said it was from an OTC supplement he took — yeah, might be an excuse or it might honestly be true (tons of OTC supplements are tainted with stimulants) but what he was taking was not going to give someone superhuman powers in any event. Not even comparable to HGH or blood doping.

Troicki of course famously refused a single blood test. YMMV on why that happened, but he never failed a blood test and there is no evidence to show he was using HGH or blood doping, so to say so is purely speculative. He might have been using something other than that and refused the test as well. Testosterone for example is something that if used too recently can show up in doping control. But he also might just be a neurotic goofball who hates needles. We don’t know.

That’s the thing. For the most part we don’t know. Doping is a reality in sports. The drugs exist to make you stronger, faster and more focused … people of all kinds are going to use them. And the means exist to mask a lot of those drugs … so the tests aren’t really that revealing. So why scapegoat a couple people for such minor infractions? At any rate, it doesn’t prove or disprove anything about anyone in the Top Four.

Dear Ruby I did not say Cilic and Troicki were doping with HGH or blood. They were doping . Period. In case of Troicki he refused to give a sample so obviously it was in the danger time for whatever it was he was taking. As for Cilic, what he took is on record. Nobody is going to admit to doping. They take dope which is also available as an ingredient in over the counter stuff and if caught say they did not look at the ingredients. Fairy tales!
When somebody refuses to take a test how can there be evidence of doping? A refusal is however equivalent to a positive test. Your logic is faulty, Ruby.

Travis Bickle: Do you check your sources before you post their links? Your self-proclaimed ‘Tennis Purist’ describes himself on Twitter as “Anti-imperialist. Anti-capitalist. Pro-DPRK. Juche is beautiful. The revolution will be launched from the Global South. May tweet about tennis during relapses.”https://twitter.com/thetennispurist?lang=en

‘DPRK’ means North Korea. ‘Juche’ is the official state ideology of North Korea. One has to be desperate and gullible to believe a nutcase who seems to be high on hallucinogenic drugs and totalitarian ideology.

Markus Says:
OMG, my wife’s calves are big as Roger’s. My wife on PEDs? Could that explain why she never gets tired shopping?

April 10th, 2017 at 2:33 pm

Markus, you had me laughing away this morning – pure joy

I think for anyone to even think that Federer is taking something, (other than coffee from a Jura machine), is seriously, seriously misguided. Of course the haters like Giles won’t budge a muscle and why should they? I don’t think I have ever read a congratulatory post (unless it is laced with sarcasm) from him). So, it leads one to conclude that Giles is an uneducated person, here to start the gossip machine.

‘Madmax all i was saying was you cant rule it out as a possibility, …’

April 10th, 2017 at 11:12 am

It is not even a possibility – something that has never once, not once crossed my mind. I absolutely 100% believe he would never risk reputation, family, sponsorship – to go over to the dark side.

Natural.Born.Talent.

Many athletes have played in their careers into their late 30s, early 40s, with the way in which our sports industry works (drug free I am talking about), why would anyone even go there? He has chosen his schedule wisely over the years, he has taken charge, listened to the advice of his trainers, and that could not have been easy with a sport that he loves probably more than his wife!

My serious question to the both of you is, do you think the ATP are biased? Yes, Giles, if you can for once, have a serious conversation about this, then KNOWING these were banned substances, WHY did Rafa even go there? That is what I don’t understand.

Rafael Nadal was given approval for betamethasone, a corticosteroid used for reducing inflammation, in 2009. (AP)

It shows two Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) given to Nadal. The Spaniard was given approval for betamethasone, a corticosteroid used for reducing inflammation, in 2009 following the U.S. Open. He was also approved for the use of corticotrophins in 2012, during the period in which he was sidelined from the tour with another knee injury. The TUE was required because corticotrophins are prohibited for use even when athletes are not competing.

I don’t understand why Rafa would have done this – I just don’t. So Giles, it is no good saying that the TUEs were given. Why approve a banned substance and why even apply for them in the first place? Explain that one to me please.

madmax like all Fed fans you seem to revel in ignorance. You have no idea what PEDs are or what TUE is.
After seeing a nearly 36 year old man sweep the first quarter I am sure everybody knows what is happening but nobody’s gonna bell the cat.

lakie: Like all of the TINY minority of Fed-Haters, you seem to revel in colossal denial, ignorant speculations and irrational arguments. You have no idea what PEDs are or what a TUE is. Just because you need to take something each morning to enable you to post this drivel does not make you an expert on this subject.

Despite seeing a 35-year old proven Greatest Of All Time dominate the first quarter (not “sweep”) you remain in the TINY minority of Fed-Haters in denial. So you spew the BIG LIE about Federer in order to distract everyone from the cloud of suspicion over your own favourite doping player.

It’s obvious that Federer had been cruising on the ATP Tour with 60 to 80% fitness conditioning, training and practice over the previous seven years between the 2010 (after AO) and 2016 seasons. Once he ramped it up to 100% for the 2017 season, the results and dominance returned.

Fed fans like throwing stones but remember people in glass houses…..
As for Fed being the cleanest, he most obviously is not. What about all those curiously favorable draws and blatantly favorable scheduling? Till recently I did honestly believe that the top athletes wouldn’t take the risk of doping. But after the Sharapova case and now resurgent Fed, I have to reluctantly accept the reality of doping. I do not know whether ITF is privy or just helpless.

I disagree with Tony N about Federer playing only 60-80% all those seasons, but I agree in general with him that the doping claim regarding Federer is bogus without proof. I mean, that article that Travis Bickle linked contains some info that people are conveniently glossing over: To prove that Federer is doping, that poster is presupposing that Nadal, Murray Djokovic, Wawrinka and Ferrer are all doping too to bolster his case(for example, when he compared Federer’s veins to Ferrer’s in that pic). So if we’re going to take that writer’s words as gospel about Federer, we also need to accept all the aforesaid top players(Nadal, Murray, Djokovic, Wawrinka etc) are also doping.

Lakie: “As for Fed being the cleanest, he most obviously is not. What about all those curiously favorable draws and blatantly favorable scheduling?”
Federer just got the worst draw at the Australian Open — yet you’re making this ridiculous claim.
Federer won at least 3 of his 5 Australian Opens while playing the second semifinal (Friday) and his opponent got the extra day’s rest — yet you’re making this ridiculous claim.
Nadal got to play the Miami semifinals and finals in the afternoon, while Federer played his semifinals in the night — yet you’re making this claim.
No 1/No. 2 Federer kept getting Djokovic on his half of the draw while No. 2/No. 1 Nadal kept getting Murray on his side of the draw — yet you’re making this ridiculous claim.http://www.essentialtennis.com/the-strange-odds-of-federer-vs-djokovic/http://www.playthegame.org/fileadmin/image/knowledgebank/Tennisdraws_Katarina_Pijetlovic.pdf

lakie has become an interesting source of dinner conversation in our household. We, my wife and our two boys, read her posts before we sit down for dinner. With her posts we are able to expound on why a little learning in a dangerous thing. We also delve on science and logic, specifically on how to reach a valid conclusion, i.e., the need for unassailable and true parameters to reach a valid conclusion. My boys say lakie fails in all counts.

Tonight, we are discussing the topic of habitus, whether one’s habitus is a valid parameter on the supposition of drug use, specifically PEDs.

I am 6´1″ 182 lbs work out 6 days a week regulary. If I skip a mid week day, work out on Staurdy and Sunday. Don´t do mcuh cardio as I was alway thin per se, never used any Roids and only take whey protein or similar. When I changed my diet back in 2013 (used to eat icecream and nutella regularly), i gain mroe muscle and my arms are way more veiny. Fore arm and legs as well. Even in abs, if you work it hard enough you begin to see more vascularity. The less body fat you have the more it will show. There is nothing to do with Roids.

Of course, there are plenty in the fitness industry that roid and say they don´t but you can clearly see it, unless the person work out 3 hours a day or those who go 2 times perd day to the gym.

That´s why I never got the Nadal PED bandwagon, he is strong but not that much. When he is without his short you see that one side is more grown than toehr and every thennsi player has the forehand arm bigger. I sued to play volleyball as well together with tennis adnt ill this day my right chest and arms are a bit bigger.

Just my two cents from a fitness perspective, specially for those guys who are fit as hell. Tennis is one of the most demanding sport all around the body, to me losing only to swimming

…”We also delve on science and logic, specifically on how to reach a valid conclusion, i.e., the need for unassailable and true parameters to reach a valid conclusion. My boys say lakie fails in all counts.”

Did you expand on the unassailable and true parameters you used to conclude your wife is on PED??? Did your boys think you passed on all counts??
Hilarious!!!
MarkusLogic=AlternativeLogic
PS Hope your wife thinks you are Aristotle and forgives you instead of thinking you are Socrates and emtying a chamber pot over your head ( ugh!)

Nadal and Djokovic may or may not be on PEDs. However, if their performance at 32 is even 25% of Federer’s at 35 then they are definitely on PEDs. Their play style should not allow them to stand on two feet after 31-32 at best.

However, I believe that Roger and Rafa are the two most popular crowd-pleaser players which makes it hard for a tournament organizer to ignore the potential income available thru scheduling R+R at prime time on central courts. Disadvantage to others? Occasionally, but not necessarily.

For much of his career, the former world number one had been blessed with a body that seemed bullet-proof against the aches, pains and injuries suffered by most top athletes.
Until May this year, Federer had appeared in 65 successive majors and the last time he was absent from one of the four majors was at the 1999 US Open.

I think if you are going to have a silly argument that Fed is doping, you have to look at his career as a whole. How much prolonged time has he taken off through injury? Answer: Once. Prolonged time, 6 months. It’s ridiculous, based on these statistics to even suggest that he takes time out to ’rejuvenate’ his body – and let’s be clear. Many athletes have donet that, with injuries. Rafa taking 7 months off, then coming back, then ’getting injured’, then taking more time off. That type of scenario lends more weight to the gossip mongering. So, be balanced about this Giles, in particular and try not to present this in a way that serves your hatred of Federer because of his massive successes. Not even Federer could have predicted that.

Lakie: OMG – lakie Says:
madmax like all Fed fans you seem to revel in ignorance. You have no idea what PEDs are or what TUE is.
After seeing a nearly 36 year old man sweep the first quarter I am sure everybody knows what is happening but nobody’s gonna bell the cat.

April 11th, 2017 at 8:28 am

I know exactly what they are thank you kindly.

If you are suggesting in any way shape or form that Federer (thanks for the congratulations by the way, he is doing well, right now, is he not?), is doping, you seriously do not know what you are talking about.

Consider the time he has taken off tour since 1999 – if there was a player who was injured, took time off, months at a time, only to return and play and win, then get injured, time off again, that player is certainly not Roger. He has been the ONE STABLE PLAYER on tour who has produced a model to follow – CONSISTENCY is Federer’s trademark.

Age is most certainly a number. It’s what you do in order to preserve that finely tuned machine, do you eat properly, include enough exercise, nutrition, will power, we are talking about elite athletes here Lakie, people who have dedicated their lives to the professional careers they have chosen.

Perfect Response Tony N, you have backed it up with fact, which is what we need for certain on this thread.

FACT.

Tony N Says:
Lakie: “As for Fed being the cleanest, he most obviously is not. What about all those curiously favorable draws and blatantly favorable scheduling?”

Federer just got the worst draw at the Australian Open — yet you’re making this ridiculous claim.
Federer won at least 3 of his 5 Australian Opens while playing the second semifinal (Friday) and his opponent got the extra day’s rest — yet you’re making this ridiculous claim.

Nadal got to play the Miami semifinals and finals in the afternoon, while Federer played his semifinals in the night — yet you’re making this claim.

No 1/No. 2 Federer kept getting Djokovic on his half of the draw while No. 2/No. 1 Nadal kept getting Murray on his side of the draw — yet you’re making this ridiculous claim.

I just love the fact that Federer is a clean athlete, and clearly works on his whole body for targeted strength when hitting that ball!
Did anyone ever tell Lackie that you can still be super skinny, yet strong – with a great cardiovascular programme and a clean diet,

Not interested in the PED’s theory, just wanted to highlight one fact in Andy’s defense, who is ignored now. He was leading the H2H until (including) 2010 against Fed! So maybe, Federer was blessed with Andy in Rafa’s half in that period of time ;)

My point was, many are complaining about Djoko in Rogers’s half of draw, when Andy was also a problem for him. Nothing more.
Looking forward for the clay season( Monte Carlo is one of my favorites masters, together with the IW and Rome. Think those are the fanciest)…but more than that I am looking forward for the grass and American HC season, where I hope, all the big 4 will be fit. Should be interesting.

VP of course, and when you listen to the interview between Murray and Federer, you can see that Federer is so respectful, saying something along the lines of ‘thinking of doing things and wishing is so different to putting them into action. It’s great to acknowledge this. I really think he is just so, so pleased to be playing tennis again.

Aside, I would love, one day to go to Monte Carlo and watching the tennis – Sadly, my finances will not stretch that far!

Interesting what Agassi says about Federer:

Last month Roger Federer signed a three-year contract with Basel event until 2019, when he will turn 38. Playing until that year would mean being on the ATP Tour for two years and a half more, but according to Andre Agassi the Swiss tennis player would be able to play also until 2022 when he will be 41. Asked if seeing Federer still competitive makes Agassi think that he could have played more, the former American player himself, interviewed by Marca, said: ‘No no. Coming back I would have probably called it a career before. Every tennis player has a different career and each one has his reason to retire. In my case my body had told me to stop and I didn’t have other choice. Also, I never had Roger’s game. For me it was easy, but it seems that he can keep going for other four or five years. The only thing I can say is that when the end comes, it comes in a fast way and you do not expect it. Something happens and everything changes.’

I did not say. Andy was in Fed’s head at the moment. You posted below link, my point was Andyy was more dangerous for Fed from 2007 until 2010, than Nole was. During that period Nole was not leading the H@H against Roger, but Andy did.
Ok, Nole beat Roger in a few matches, but I think, Roger had preferred to play against Djoko.

Yep, agree Monte Carlo is EXPENSIVE. Have seen Djoko losing to Rafa in that final from 2012 (only tennis match seen live by me at MC)….accommodation in Monte Carlos is also not the cheapest. It was fabulous for me to watch a tennis game and to see the Mediterranean Sea at the same time. Was a fabulous day for me, even if Djoko lost.
Would be happy to go to Indian Wells once in this life…

Have no problem with Federer playing a few more years. Have the feeling, that will motivate my man, Djoko. Wish to see a few more finals with them. Hehe ;)

Please, let’s have a sensible conversation – these ridiculous one liners – we need a proper dialogue – now I have posted you twice above, about the Rafa link and I would like to hear your opinion – support it please, if you can, without emotion.

Of course, many, many, MANY more matches to come between Novak and Federer, one can only hope. Hope that all players return happy, healthy and raring to go for the clay season which is looming. Would not wish for anything less.

As for Monte Carlo, I am afraid that will be a pipe dream for me, unless I win a huge load of money – then we are talking!

“As for Monte Carlo, I am afraid that will be a pipe dream for me, unless I win a huge load of money – then we are talking”

Well Madmax, if you are not European, I think it is not very easy to go there. Like for me it would be a huge financial effort to travel to Melbourne for a tennis match, same goes with New York, IW, so on. I travelled to London, but Wimby is always in the summer , so I rather do something else with the money which I should spend on tennis tickets (I belong to middle class, so not a rich person)….so each of us with the priotities set by our income.:). I was also arrogant, when I went to Monte Carlo for that match, but my boyfriend and I had the opportunity and we grab it…
So I have a huge TV at home, where I enjoy the matches…and when I am to nervous during a match , I can also light a cigarette….so there are advantages to watch a tennis match at home.lol

It is clear that Fed fans believe their idol is doping so whenever any one of us wants to seriously debate this issue they try to deviate and distract from the topic by claiming x , y or z are doping. Especially madmax who has posted tons of stuff about another player and tried to prove TUE=doping. Clearly an attempt to distract but seriously how much importance can you give to the posts of this person who does not even know what is the banned list or what is TUE? Another person who tried to throw us off track was skeezer who claimed HGH is for building muscle mass and Fed is not abnormally muscled!!! Too funny!

Madmax: The match in Scotland took place previously. You may recall Andy persuaded Roger to wear the kilt. Went down well. Andy lost the match….but was also successful in many other ways – being a charity match.

ha ha skeeze, don’t be worried. Fed probably has the blessings of ITF for his doping. Djok was too boring and no next gen seemed promising. Fed to the rescue! Millions delighted! Tennis has received a fresh lease of life just as Fed has courtesy you- know -what. But madmax claims he has been doping all along!

Fed is playing superbly but he does look a lot older – a bit swollen, but one can’t tell precisely from photos. Yet he is moving speedier than I ever remember so maybe he’s got his last slice of youthful energy. What is youth and what is old age these days? My rather elderly neighbours are called the “young ones” when they go to a weekly retiree luncheon. Seems to me that anyone born in the 80′s will live easily and healthily until they hit 100….so perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by the longevity of sports-people.

Sean you know Federer is 5-0 against Murray in their last matches so what makes you think that things would’ve been any different this time? Especially with the new and improved Federer’s game…and Novak has been terrible for a while nos
Í can’t believe you ver pay for this.
Peace

It was a great match – and I loved the fact that they had the bag pipes and kilt out to welcome Andy in Zurich. It was a fine moment. I really, really enjoyed the cameradie. :-)

VP,

“So I have a huge TV at home, where I enjoy the matches…and when I am to nervous during a match , I can also light a cigarette….so there are advantages to watch a tennis match at home.lol”

April 12th, 2017 at 8:56 am

- too funny! but what a second best this is for you and BF!

Willow,

If, after what you have said, about not believing conspiracy theories, and then go on to say, ‘Repeat’

Quote “Willow Says:
Madmax all i was saying was you cant rule it out as a possibility,….” – from your own mouth, then really, you need to rest.

I have asked both you and Giles, genuninely to respond to the article about Rafa – that was a shock for me, that he had been taking drugs, and drugs that had been banned – why would he do this? Why? Knowing they are banned, he still took steroids – and why should his case be any different to Sharapova’s?

As for Roger, we all know what you think about him Willow, and that is of course, your prerogative, but I, for one, absolutely, 100% believe in the only drug he is taking is one. Love for the game, Love for his family and Love for the work he has to put into get the results.

So please Willow, the words came directly from YOUR MOUTH, not mine. Go back to your post, April, 10th, it just comes down to Jealousy in my book. Jealousy from you, child and lackie – now you are in the same group. Whooo hoooo Willow!

lakie Says:
It is clear that Fed fans believe their idol is doping so whenever any one of us wants to seriously debate this issue they try to deviate and distract from the topic by claiming x , y or z are doping. Especially madmax who has posted tons of stuff about another player and tried to prove TUE=doping. Clearly an attempt to distract but seriously how much importance can you give to the posts of this person who does not even know what is the banned list or what is TUE? Another person who tried to throw us off track was skeezer who claimed HGH is for building muscle mass and Fed is not abnormally muscled!!! Too funny!

April 12th, 2017 at 12:23 pm

Question:

Lackie, WHY did Rafa take a banned substance. It was a banned drug and yet he took it, why? Even when he was not competing, it clearly states that athletes should NOT take this drug. Why Lackie? Answer please. Same goes for Giles and for Willow.

Lackie,
Using common sense, those players who have been actively driving the use of the athlete biological passport and other tougher drug detection and punishment measures are likely to be clean players.

According to Wikipedia: “an athlete biological passport is an individual, electronic record for professional athletes, in which profiles of biological markers of doping and results of doping tests are collated over a period of time. Doping violations can be detected by noting variances from an athlete’s established levels outside permissible limits, rather than testing for and identifying illegal substances… Many believe that the athlete passport provides an excellent alternative to ensure fairness in elite sports. While a new drug test must be developed and validated for each new drug, the main advantage of the athlete passport is that it is based on the stability of the physiology of the human being. New drugs are produced at an unprecedented pace today and there is often a lag of several years between the availability of a new drug and the application of an effective detection method. In contrast, the physiology of the human being remains the same through several generations and all biomarkers developed today in the athlete passport will remain valid for at least several decades… Also, while a negative drug test does not necessarily mean that the athlete did not dope, the athlete can present his/her passport at the beginning of a competition to attest that he/she will compete in his/her natural, unaltered condition.”

Thanks madmax. Regarding Lackie’s claims about Federer receiving “blatantly favorable scheduling”, Federer has paid his dues. Those who have watched Federer 10 to 13 years ago might remember the poor scheduling of courts given to multiple-slam winner No. 1 Federer in those early years. In response to what happened at the 2006 US Open, Frank Deford (one of America’s great sportswriters) wrote in Sports Illustrated: “Federer: If It’s Not Our Star And Our Sport, U.S. Just Doesn’t Care…. when Federer, the defending champion, four-time Wimbledon winner, played a key match at the U.S. Open a couple of weeks ago, the U.S. Tennis Association put him on the lounge court, while scheduling an American, James Blake, in the stadium. Blake, to use that wonderful British word, is a “useful” player; Federer may be the greatest artist in the history of his sport. But Federer’s slighting is what’s to be expected here. How strange that we are such a narrow, jingoistic sports country — we, this cherished land of immigrants. If the U.S. Tennis Association was in charge of music instead of tennis, Placido Domingo would be singing at a suburban Ramada Inn piano bar while Snoop Dogg worked Lincoln Center. Gee, even (Tiger) Woods dared root for Federer.”

Madmax you seem determined to believe the worst of me, not alot i can do about that, when you know damn well ive always tried to give all players a fair hearing, and critiqued my favorites too, i dont hate Federer, and im not jealous of him either, still your choice on what you believe ! ….

Van Persie: Federer would have preferred facing Murray in his half of any grand slam draw. Federer has a 5-1 record over Murray in Grand Slam matches (Federer’s only loss was 2013 Australian after Federer was drained in a five setter against Tsonga). So in reality, Murray was less of a problem for an in-form Federer than Djokovic was.

Murray was not in Federer’s head. The H2H between Federer and Murray does not provide context into how Murray got most of his early wins over Federer: Murray got to play relatively more of his early matches against Federer in a slump. Furthermore, Murray was not a top 5 player until after the 2008 US Open. Federer, even in a slump, always seemed more motivated to beat Djokovic given the bad blood between the two players and Novak’s parents.

Below are some details on Murray’s wins over Federer.

2005 Bangkok: Federer won his first match against a teenage Murray.

2006 Cincinnati: Teenage Murray won his first match against Federer. I remember this well because I had watched Federer play in Toronto the previous week. 2006 was the last year that the Masters tournament conditions were tougher: in order to win both events, even the top seed had to play 6 matches in Toronto and again 6 matches in Cincinnati (there was no bye in the 1st round for top players before 2007). Federer had played 6 matches in 6 consecutive days to win Toronto — including four three-setters in consecutive days (3rd Rd, QF, SF, Finals). Two days after winning Toronto, Federer was in Cincinnati playing a lackluster 1st round match against Paradon Srichapan, where Roger was down a break in both sets but came back twice to win in straight sets. The next day, when Federer lost his 2nd round match against Murray, even Mary Carillo told John McEnroe that Federer “didn’t try to win Cincinnati…. He wasn’t trying to beat Andy Murray that day and he wasn’t trying to win. He went there because he had to.”http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2006/08/sinner-in-the-hands-of-an-angry-god/44840/http://nypost.com/2006/08/25/mad-federer-firing-back-calls-carillos-comment-absurd/

2008 Dubai to 2009 Indian Wells: Federer won 1 match, Murray won 5 matches (all in deciding third sets): 2008 Dubai (his first match after being diagnosed with mononucleosis), 2008 Madrid (Fall indoor hard court), 2008 Tennis Masters Cup (WTF), 2009 Doha, 2009 Indian Wells. These 5 losses all occurred when Federer was vulnerable during his 17-month slump – yet Federer rolled over Murray in the one match that mattered most, the 2008 US Open final.
- Federer had an ATP record 315-24 (93%) win-loss record and 42 titles in the four years between 2004 and 2007.
- After that, Federer was in a 17-month slump between 2008 Australian Open and 2009 Rome Masters, caused by a bout of mononucleosis (glandular fever) in early January 2008, returning to the tour prematurely (instead of taking a 6 to 12 month break to recuperate), and later due to back injury in Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 (probably caused by overreliance on his serve to survive matches in the wake of the mono). During this 17-month slump, 27-to-28 year old Federer won just 4 titles. Federer’s win-loss record was 87-21 (81%). Vulnerable Federer lost to No. 2 Nadal (0-5), No. 3 Djokovic (2-3), No. 4 Murray (1-5). As well, vulnerable Federer also lost to No. 9 Simon (2), No. 6 Roddick, No. 7 Blake, No. 16 Wawrinka, No. 22 Karlovic, No. 27 Stepanek, No. 98 Fish – in most cases for the only time in his career (Simon, Blake, Karlovic, Stepanek, Fish) or in a very rare defeat (Roddick, Wawrinka).

2009 Cincinnati to 2015 Cincinnati: Federer won 12 matches, Murray won only 5 matches. These are the matches that Murray won:
- 2010 Canada Masters: Federer lost a close 2-setter final the day after Federer’s tight 2.5 hour 3-set semifinal win over Djokovic. Federer was still struggling in a slump since winning the 2010 Australian Open.
- 2010 Shanghai Masters: Federer lost a 2-setter final the day after Federer’s 2-set semifinal win over Djokovic.
- 2012 London Olympics: Federer lost a best of 5 set final in straight sets to Murray – just after a drained Federer had played the longest 3-set match in the Open Era (since 1968) against Juan Martin Del Potro: their 3 set match between two relatively quick players who do not waste time between points lasted 4.5 hours, 58 games and 366 points (in comparison, the so-called epic Djokovic-Nadal 2012 Australian open 5-set match was 55 games, 369 points that was so slowly played that it gave Djokovic-Nadal a lot more recovery time between points than the quicker-played Federer-Delpo match). After winning 2012 Wimbledon, Federer took a long vacation in Sardinia, stayed to watch an Elton John concert and had showed up late and rusty at the Olympics – while Murray had gone back to the practice court within four days of his Wimbledon loss to Federer.
- 2012 Shanghai Masters: Distracted by death threats from a crazy Nadal fan in China, then No. 1 Federer arrived looking underprepared and rusty, yet practiced with his buddy Jarkko Nieminen under tight security in sessions closed to the public. Federer got embroiled in a tight match with Wawrinka in the 3rd round, played Cilic then lost to Murray in the semifinals. Federer lost the No. 1 ranking due to his loss in that event, which Federer had considered skipping — Federer later admitted that it was not his goal to be year-end No. 1. He played with the attitude to break 300 weeks at No. 1, no more.
- 2013 Australian Open: ‘Less fit’ Federer lost a 5-set semifinal to Murray after his 5-set quarterfinal against Tsonga.

Willow Says:
Madmax you seem determined to believe the worst of me, not alot i can do about that, when you know damn well ive always tried to give all players a fair hearing, and critiqued my favorites too, i dont hate Federer, and im not jealous of him either, still your choice on what you believe ! ….

April 13th, 2017 at 2:35 pm

Willow,

Please. You are not answering my question. I don’t care a bit about anything else. Answer my direct question, to repeat, ‘still your choice, on what you believe’…I’ll ask again.

What do you think about the article of Rafa, clearly, unequivocally taking drugs? I am genuinely interested from an ardent rafa fan.

Im not an ardent Rafa fan, im just a normal one, regarding the article its intersting, and i dont quite know what to think really, its not really in the spirit of the sport i suppose, and not really fair to the other players, its a bit of a grey area ….

1. better anticipation of opponents’ move, partially faster courts providing more problem for his opponent to send good returns and easier to read
2. improved backhand (obviously) – not saying that it was a revolution for him, but now the success ratio is increased
3. more aggressive returns, dictating from the beginning (also supported by faster courts) – increase his breakpoint chances
4. better footwork, possibly also an impact from focused training during recovery
5. consistent volley, supported by better footwork also
6. better focus (after 6 month off, and good preparation) – this also impacted the no. (1) and (3) above
7. all of above and faster play are giving him chance to play with his “instinct”, instead of his “brain”

Take away Djokovic’s amazing play over the last few years, and Federer wins multiple slams over multiple years, as opposed to getting runner up trophies.

The only difference this year is Djokovic hasn’t been able to (unsurprisingly) maintain his peak level of form.

Oh, and that the rest of the field is just terribly weak. The terribly weak field means that instead of getting knocked out early when he isn’t in form (like in the 2000s), Nadal is actually making it to the finals and playing Federer even when he isn’t at his peak. Which means Federer has a much better chance of winning against him.

And finally the new racket/backhand along with Federer refusing to chip return on his backhand means that lower pressure allowed Federer to adjust his tactics enough to handle Nadal, something he wasn’t willing to do in the past.